Umbrella scheme for rural poor

Chandigarh, September 20

The Congress government today announced a scheme to benefit 18 marginalised sections living in rural areas. The scheme, Mahatama Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana, will be an umbrella scheme that would dovetail 14 different existing welfare schemes run by various departments.

There will thus be no financial implication. The challenge would be its proper implementation.

The scheme is meant to benefit debt stressed farmers, poor families that have a woman as sole bread earner, families of AIDS patients, out-of-school children, martyred soldiers, differently-abled, abandoned old persons, drug addicts among others. — TNS